DIXON TAKES CONTROL AT AJGA FUTURELINKS
JUNIOR AT DEER CREEKSadekar maintains lead in Girls Division heading
into final round

AJAX, Ontario -- Jesse Dixon of Ann Arbor, Mich.,
fired a 2-under-par 69 Thursday to erase a four-shot
deficit and climb atop the Boys Division leaderboard
at the AJGA FutureLinks Junior at Deer Creek. Seema
Sadekar, of Stouffville, Ontario, shot a 77 to stay
ahead of the pack in the Girls Division.

The 54-hole event, conducted by the American Junior
Golf Association and FutureLinks, is being held at the
Deer Creek Golf & Country Estates, Ruby & Diamond
courses. This is the first year of partnership between
the AJGA - the United States' premier junior golf organization
- and FutureLinks - Canada's blossoming national junior
golf program. The field features 99 players from Canada,
the United States and Bermuda, including 65 players
from Ontario.

Dixon leads with a 72-69-141 total, but found trouble
early in the second round. Dixon carded a double-bogey
on No.1 and missed the green with his tee shot on the
209-yard, par-3 second hole. But Dixon was able to recover
with an up-and-down for par to get back on track for
the rest of his round.

"It definitely shook me a little, getting off
to a rough start on No. 1," Dixon said. "But
I knew I could play good golf after that. After I made
par on No. 2, I forgot about it and starting playing
like I can."

Dixon rallied with birdies on Nos. 7 and 8 to get back
to even-par at the turn. After a par on No. 10, Dixon
started attacking the greens with his wedges, sticking
a lob wedge within 15 feet on No. 11 and knocking a
pitching wedge within eight feet on No. 12 to set up
a pair of birdies. Dixon carded his fifth birdie of
the day on the 527-yard, par-5 16th en route to a 35-34-69.

"I was driving the ball well today which gave
me a lot of wedges into the green to set up birdie chances,"
Dixon said. "I'm happy with my round and glad to
be playing in the final group tomorrow with a good shot
at winning."

Andrew Parr of London, Ontario, and Daniel Kreindler
of Danville, Calif., sit four strokes back in a tie
for second place at 145. Brad Moulton of Orangeville,
Ontario, holds fourth place at 68-78--146. Andrew Gallo
of Thornhill, Ontario, rounds out the top five at 72-75--147.

In the Girls Division, Sadekar carded four birdies
on the day to help her secure the lead heading into
the final round. The 16-year-old rolled in a 10-footer
from the fringe on No. 4 and added a 25-footer from
the fringe on No. 7 en route to a 3-over-par 38 on the
front nine.

"I was good from 100 yards and in today,"
said Sadekar, who is looking for her first AJGA title.
"I tried to play safe today and not be as aggressive
as usual."

Sadekar continued her solid iron play on the back nine,
nearly holing her approach with a pitching wedge on
No. 10 before tapping-in for birdie and then used another
good approach on No. 11 to set up a 10-foot birdie.

"I really want to win," said Sadekar, who
is looking for her first AJGA title. "I missed
a few opportunities today, but tomorrow I'm going to
keep playing safe and we'll see what happens."

With rounds of 74-77-151, Sadekar holds a three-shot
lead. Honorable mention Polo Golf Junior All-American
Eom-Ji Park of Vancouver, B.C., lurks close behind at
154 after carding the low round in the Girls Division
with a 1-over-par 72. Eunice Yum of Torrance, Calif.,
sits in third place at 81-75-156.

The American Junior Golf Foundation is the primary recipient of all charitable giving to the AJGA and as such administers a variety of programs designed to compliment the AJGA and the members and families who make up our community. Learn more about these important programs and how your contributions to the Foundation secure the AJGA’s financial future for future generations to come.

The Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant program provides financial assistance to junior golfers who wish to play in AJGA events. Its goal is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA’s mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

Leadership Links

What is Leadership Links?

Leadership Links is a new program whereby the AJGA is able to further its mission to help develop young men and women by teaching charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. This program gives juniors all the tools necessary to donate their time, talent and resources to local charities and the AJGA youth development programs. Please click here to learn more about the program and the different opportunities available.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and
development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.